Q&A: Asphalt Felt Under Vinyl Siding

Q.Can asphalt felt be used
directly under vinyl siding? I have heard that the two
products are incompatible.

A.Bob Werner, applications
sales specialist at CertainTeed Corp.,
responds: The installation of asphalt felt as
a weather barrier under vinyl siding has been
common for years and is approved by the Vinyl
Siding Institute’s installation guide. I
have never heard of any compatibility problems
between the two products. During my years as an
installer, going back to the late 1970s, I
installed vinyl siding over asphalt felt on at
least 400 houses and have never heard of any
problems arising from the use of felt under
vinyl.